New HD to Aptiva 2140

[jjhill]

I am trying to add a new HD to an Aptiva 2140. I keep getting an error when in Windows setup it wants to reboot to load Windows 2000 but it keeps giving me a "HD Error".

The drive is a Maxtor 120Gig 7200RPM.

Any idea's?

Thanks
Jack

[WhatsThisBoxFor?]

Have you tried running the diagnostic utilty from the Maxtor site? It boots off a floppy drive and can run tests on the hard drive.

[glc]

That's a pretty old machine, I doubt the bios can handle a hard drive that large. You probably need a PCI IDE controller card.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=16-102-002&depa=0

[jjhill]

That's a pretty old machine, I doubt the bios can handle a hard drive that large. You probably need a PCI IDE controller card.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=16-102-002&depa=0

Thanks.

I will try it. Do I need to diable the onboard IDE Controller, and if so, do you do it through a switch or BIOS. If Switch, which number, if BIOS, how do you bring up System Setting on startup.

Thanks for all the help
Jack

[glc]

No need to disable the onboard, you can keep using it for the smaller drives and the optical drives.

[jjhill]

No need to disable the onboard, you can keep using it for the smaller drives and the optical drives.

Thanks. I just received the PCI card today from your suggestion. I will install it Tomorrow.

Thanks
Jack

[jjhill]

glc,

I inserted the PCI Card went through the directions for Windows2000 Install. Loaded drivers as instructed. When Windows wants to reboot during install, I get the same message "Windows 2000 cannot find the boot drive" Any other ideas.

TIA
Jack

[glc]

Is the Promise bios loading and identifying the drive? Is the Aptiva bios set to boot to hard drives on the addon card prior to hard drives on the onboard IDE? Is the boot sector virus protection turned off in the Aptiva bios?